MEng Electronic and Information Engineering

Our four year MEng Electronic and Information Engineering course is aimed at those who thrive on innovating beyond current practice.

The course is both theoretical and practical, aiming to ensure graduates can apply engineering to real world situations.

You will complete a four year programme of studies, incorporating Master's level study, and an industrial placement.

* dependent on third and fourth year module choices

About the course

Overview

Our Electronic and Information Engineering degree programmes give you an understanding of the entire stack of modern networked computers, from the design and architecture of the CPU in a smartphone, to the information theory and wireless protocols connecting it to the internet, and on to the operating systems and databases providing back-end support in the cloud.

They cover the technical knowledge and practical skills of both computing and electrical engineering, while also providing a big picture view of how it all connects together, preparing you for a career in cutting edge technology in industry or research.

This integrated Master's course enables you to complete an industrial placement, and also undertake Master's level study in your final year.

What you study

You use mathematical principles and techniques to analyse engineering systems.

Your focus will be the physical principles and fundamental concepts underpinning electronic and information engineering, in areas such as: circuits, systems, networks and high-level programming.

You will develop your programming skills and develop knowledge of software engineering and CPU architecture and design.

Which degree is right for me?

If you are unsure which of our degrees is right for you, the common first and second years give you the opportunity to make your final choice of degree programme at the end of the second year, subject to satisfactory performance.

Structure

Modules shown are for the current academic year, and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.

You will take some core modules jointly with students on the Electrical and Electronic Engineering courses, others that are specifically designed for Electronic and Information Engineering students; and some taught by the Department of Computing.

Year 1

In the first year you take 12 core modules, supported by study groups and experiments in electrical and computer laboratories.

You will learn how to program in C and become familiar with software design, programming concepts and tool use – skills that will transfer to any programming language/environment that you encounter.

You will take part in a group project that allows you to perform image and video processing on a configurable hardware board. There is no processor, only a Field Programmable Gate Array. This will enable you to carry out high performance parallel processing by building your own processor designed to process your own algorithm and design a game. Your project is assessed by report and demonstration.

In order to pass the first year, you must achieve at least 40% in each of the examined modules, and an average of 40% across your practical work.

Core modules

Analysis of Circuits

Digital Electronics 1

Introduction to Signals and Communications

Software Engineering 1: Introduction to Computing

Software Engineering 1: Algorithms and Data Structures

Introduction to Computer Architecture

Mathematics I (E-stream and I-stream)

User-centred Information Systems

Professional Engineering

Computing Lab

Electronics Lab

Group Design Project

Year 2

In this year you take 14 core modules.

Your second year project is a four-day IBM Computer Architecture Workshop, run by staff from IBM and Imperial. This will give you the opportunity to apply your understanding of systems architecture, databases, middleware, operating systems and network hardware and software to a real IT systems challenge.

In order to pass the second year, you must achieve at least 40% in each of the examined modules, except Mathematics II where the pass mark is 50%. In addition you must average at least 50% in examinations, and 40% in practical work.

The year begins with a choice of modules, before beginning a six-month industrial placement.

You will choose eight modules in total, at least one from both Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Computing, and one module in humanities or business.

In order to pass the third year, you must achieve an average of 40% across the academic year.

Six month industrial placement

The third year of our MEng degree is structured to include a six-month industrial placement as part of your degree (as an alternative to an internal project). The placement runs from April to September, allowing you to tackle significant industrial projects that help develop skills in solving real engineering problems, and provide invaluable experience of engineering as it is really practiced.

The industrial placement is supervised by a member of staff from the company you will be working for and a member of staff from the Department. It must be related to your degree in technical, business or commercial content. Departmental staff will help you set and agree objectives for your placement, which is assessed by a written and oral report.

Students have previously enjoyed placement opportunities with:

Altera

Bang & Olufsen

Dialog Semiconductors

Goldman Sachs

IBM

Ocado Technology

Group project

As an alternative to the placement, you can do a group project (6-8 people) during the summer term. The group acts as a technical consultant to a brief provided by an industrial client. The project will involve the specification, design, implementation and testing of a pre-production prototype of a new product or technical solution.

Engineering optional modules

Communication Systems

Digital System Design

VHDL and Logic Synthesis

Digital Signal Processing

Advanced Signal Processing

Control Engineering

Mathematics for Signals and Systems

Artificial Intelligence

Communication Networks

Real-time Digital Signal Processing

Computing optional modules

Advanced Databases

Computer Vision

Graphics

Custom Computing

Robotics

Simulation and Modelling

Introduction to Bioinformatics

Operations Research

Concurrent Programming

Humanities and Business

Year 4

In the fourth year you will undertake an individual project and select seven optional modules.

In order to pass the fourth year and graduate with an honours degree, you must acheive at least 40% across the academic year and at least 40% in the group project/industrial placement, module average and individual project.

Individual project

The project provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate independence and originality, to plan and organise a large project over a long period, and to put into practice some of the techniques you have learnt throughout the course. It should be the most satisfying and inspiring piece of work in your degree.

Optional modules

You will choose a total of seven modules, with one humanities or business-related module, and at least one choice from electrical and electronic engineering, and another from computing.

Electrical and Electronic Engineering modules

There are 30 optional modules available, and the list below gives an idea of what will be available:

Coding Theory

Communication Theory

Computation and Networks

Digital Signalling Processing and Imaging

Embedded, Linear, and Discrete Systems

Information Theory

Integrated Circuit Design

Optical and Wireless Communications

Stability and Sustainability of Systems

Robotics

Computing

Network and Web Security

Advanced Computer Architecture

Machine Learning

Advanced Computer Graphics

Computational Neurodynamics

Computational Finance

Parallel Algorithms

Performance Analysis

Complexity

Argumentation and Multi-agent Systems

Software Engineering for Industry

Computing for Optimal Decisions

Intelligent Data and Probabilistic Inference

Humanities and Business

Teaching and assessment

Our courses are taught through a combination of lectures, study groups, problem solving classes, laboratory work and projects. As your knowledge builds, you will practise more and more ambitious project work.

As well as traditional teaching methods, the course aims to be practical, with hardware and software laboratories, group and individual projects, and the option of an industrial placement.

Additionally you can expect 3-1 sessions, oral and poster presentations and tutorial sessions.

You are assessed by written examinations and coursework assignments, including practical elements.

Staff expertise

The majority of your modules will be taught by our academic staff, all of who are active researchers in their field. Some subjects such as mathematics are taught by specialised teaching-only staff. Your laboratory sessions are run by academic staff who are supported by our technical staff and Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs).

European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

The overall ECTS credit will depend upon the selection of modules, and whether you choose to do an industrial placement (greater ECTS credit) or the group project alternative (lower ECTS credit).

Key Information Set (KIS)

Details about how this course is taught and assessed are provided in the KIS (key information set).

The KIS is a set of statistics which all universities use to describe how their courses are taught and assessed. This allows students to compare similar courses at different institutions.

The KIS describes the percentage of time which students typically spend in timetabled activity and in independent study for each year of their course as well the percentage of assessment which is exams, coursework or practical. An overview of the KIS is shown in the widget at the bottom of the page and further detail (including a year-by-year breakdown) is available via Unistats.

Entry requirements

We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis. If your qualifications are not listed here, please see our academic requirements by country page, which gives the minimum entry requirements for a range of international qualifications.

A-levels

Our standard A-level entry requirements are A*AA overall, to include:

A* in Mathematics

A in Physics

A in a third subject (see below)

The third subject can be any from the list below, but we prefer Further Mathematics.

Applicants are normally expected to gain these grades at first attempt (i.e. by end of Year 13). It is acceptable to re-take individual AS and A2 modules during years 12 and 13. We will consider applicants who are re-taking A-levels having taken them in Year 13 and retaking the following November or May.

Practical endorsement (practical science assessment)

If you are made an offer you will be required to achieve a pass in the practical endorsement in all science subjects that form part of the offer.

International Baccalaureate

For students studying the International Baccalaureate, we require 38 points overall, including:

6 in higher level Physics

6 in higher level Mathematics

Scottish qualifications

For students studying Scottish qualifications, we require AAA in Advanced Highers in Maths, Physics and a third subject.

Cambridge Pre-U

For students studying the Cambridge Pre-U, we require D2 in Mathematics, and distinction in all principal subjects. Mathematics and Physics are compulsory. Acceptable third subjects are Biology, Chemistry, Economics or Further Mathematics. We will also consider a combination of Pre-U and A2 level in Mathematics and Physics.

Other qualifications

We also accept a wide range of other qualifications and popular examples include: Scottish Advanced Highers and Cambridge Pre-U.

For information on the entry requirements for these qualifications, or for the suitability of qualifications not listed here, please contact the Department using the contact details in the green 'Find out more' box on the left of this page.

Mathematics and Physics are compulsory subjects for all entrants. We do not accept applications with BTEC Higher National Diploma or from Access courses.

English language requirement (all applicants)

All applicants must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.

Selection process

We encourage applications from all who want to learn what it takes to create our future. You should have the potential to succeed in a challenging course, as demonstrated by meeting our entry grades. But we are looking beyond your raw marks for a passion in developing your knowledge and understanding of this broadest form of engineering.

In addition to your academic ability, your application will be considered on your wider profile and on an interview where possible, which will assess your potential for success in your degree choice. We will look at your personal statement and reference to understand your personal motivation, your commitment to your chosen area of study, and your broader interests.

We interview all suitable applicants. If we are considering making you an offer, and you are in the UK or EU, we will invite you to one of our interview afternoons, where you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you have about our courses and life at Imperial. You will be shown around the campus by our Department’s undergraduate students, and be interviewed by one of our academic staff.

If we are considering making you an offer and you are overseas, or unable to visit, we will arrange a telephone or Skype interview.

Tuition fees and funding

Home and EU students

2017 entry:

£9,250 per year

The UK government has confirmed that universities that have achieved a ‘meet expectations’ award – which includes Imperial – will, under the first year of the new Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), be able to raise their fees in 2017. The rise is an inflationary amount of 2.8% to a maximum of £9,250. The measure of inflation used is RPI-X (the retail price index, excluding mortgage interest payments). You should expect the fee to increase beyond 2017 for each year that your course lasts, subject to UK government regulations on fee increases.

The UK government has also confirmed that EU students starting or continuing their studies in the 2017–18 academic year will continue to pay the Home rate of tuition fees for the duration of their course. EU students will also remain eligible for the same government funding support as they are now, including the Tuition Fee Loan. This access to government funding will continue throughout your course, even if the UK exits the EU during this time.

Islands and overseas students

2017 entry:

£27,750 per year

Please note that the tuition fee amount you will pay may increase each year.

Government funding

The level of tuition fees you pay is based on your fee status, which we assess based on UK government legislation. Find out more about fee status assessments.

Home and EU students (with the exception of Graduate Medicine students) can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of their fees each year.

Home students may also be eligible for a Maintenance Loan to help with their living costs.

Additional costs

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study which have to be budgeted for in addition to tuition fees and living expenses. This section provides examples of these and it is possible that all, or some, of these will be relevant to you.

Please note that the cost figures given are based on what such costs were in previous academic years and these are likely to change year to year. However, it is useful for you to be aware of the types of things you may have to pay for and their cost in previous years.

This section details whether the additional costs are essential or optional. Essential costs are highlighted as costs that you will need to pay to fully participate and complete your studies. Optional costs are not essential to your studies and you will be free to opt out of these.

Course materials

The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering will provide you with the necessary materials for your study free of charge, within reason.

Industrial placement

You have the opportunity to undertake a six-month industrial placement as part of the Department's MEng degrees. The industrial placement is optional and there is a group project alternative (see Structure for more information).

The additional costs associated with the industrial placement will vary depending on where your placement is based. You should expect to budget for travel and/or accommodation, though you will also receive a salary from your host company which you can put towards these costs.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Wearing personal protective equipment is compulsory for some activities on this course. Where this applies, we will provide you with the necessary PPE free of charge.

Bursaries and scholarships

Imperial Bursary

The Imperial Bursary is available to any Imperial Home undergraduate student (except Graduate Medicine students) whose household income falls below £60,000 per year.

It is designed to ease the cost of London living by providing support on a sliding scale, from £2,000 up to £5,000 per year.

As long as your household income remains below £60,000 you will automatically qualify for a bursary for every year of undergraduate study.

The bursary is paid on top of any government loans to which you are entitled and does not need to be paid back. Find out more about the Imperial Bursary.

Application deadlines

All applications which include choices for medicine at Imperial must be submitted to UCAS by 18.00 (UK time) on 15 October 2016 for entry in October 2017.

The deadline for other courses at Imperial starting in 2017 is 18.00 (UK time) on 15 January 2017.

Students at a school/college registered with UCAS

All UK schools and colleges and a small number of EU and international institutions are registered with UCAS.

To make it clear which school or college you are applying from you will need to ask one of your teachers or advisers for the UCAS buzzword. You will need to enter this in UCAS’s Apply system when you register.

Tracking your application

Once you’ve completed your application and it’s been submitted through UCAS’s Apply system, you can use UCAS’ Track system to follow its progress and manage your choices.

Professional accreditation and associateship

Professional accreditation

This degree is professionally accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Imperial College London is a member of the IET's Power Academy and the UK Electronic Skills Foundation (UKESF), both of which support home students through scholarships.

Associateship

This course also leads to the award of the Associateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute (ACGI).

What our graduates do

From the start of your degree course, you’ll discover how professional skills will help you become more effective as an engineer. You will be equipped to make your ideas real and to explain technical subjects to others through powerful and persuasive written and spoken presentations. We will help you understand how to rise to the challenges faced by engineering businesses.

Information for offer holders for 2017

This section lists the changes that have been made to information about this course on this page since the UCAS application process opened on 1 September 2016.

All core modules are displayed on this page; the optional modules represent an indicative list of those that are likely to be available rather than all optional modules that will be offered every year. As a result, the changes recorded here only apply to the modules displayed on this page rather than all available on this course.

Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.

There are currently no changes to record for this course. Keep checking back for future updates.